For expert estate planning including Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney & Guardianships, testamentary trusts and retirement village contracts, as well as skilled deceased estate management and advice.
In 2023 our Wills & Estates team was recognised as a “Leading Estates & Succession Planning Law Firm” and a “Leading Wills & Estates Litigation Law Firm” by the Doyles Guide.
Talk to our Wills & Estates team for good advice and Fixed Fee services.
We cannot know what the future holds, so how to plan for the unknown? The good news is that skilled estate planning can give you certainty about protecting your assets and providing for your loved ones.
The SHG estate planning process has been developed using our experience helping clients to achieve the outcomes they want. We can give you the tools to achieve your estate planning outcomes too.
Estate planning is more than talking about money. It can include your business succession issues or we can advise you about testamentary trust mechanisms to protect your personal relationships as well as your assets.
ESTATE PLANNING CHECKLIST
We want everyone to have a Will. Even a very simple Will can save those you leave behind a lot of time and money.
The SHG Wills & Estates team has decades of experience and knows how to draft the right Will for your circumstances. Our priority is to give you confidence that your wishes can be carried out effectively.
Do you already have a Will, but it was made a long time ago? Most Wills are prepared to last for a long time. If you are not sure, or if your circumstances have changed significantly over the years, we are always available for an initial conversation to work out if an updated Will is needed.
Your family or financial circumstances may be very complex, but the SHG Wills & Estates team can work with you to put in place the right Will, in plain language.
ESTATE PLANNING CHECKLIST
Many families have overseas assets and beneficiaries to include in their estate planning. We can advise you on how to make sure your intentions are carried out.
Whether this means advising you on the wording for a second, foreign will; or working with international lawyers, the SHG Wills & Estates team can give you solutions.
We want to make sure that you are protected when you can’t make decisions for yourself, whether for the short term or long-term future.
The forms of Enduring Powers of Attorney and Guardianship appointments are different for each state and territory. The SHG Wills & Estates team can answer your questions about these documents. We can give you effective advice and prepare ACT and NSW enduring powers of attorney and/or appointments of enduring guardians that give you security in times you need it most.
Tribunal proceedings
What happens when your loved one can’t make their own decisions, but they have not appointed anyone to assist? The solution is usually to ask the ACT Civil & Administrative Tribunal or NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal to make an order appointing an individual or trustee to step in.
The Tribunals can also make changes to existing powers of attorney or guardianship appointments that are not effective.
This can be a stressful situation and we are well placed to advise you about which steps to take.
What is a Will?
A will is a legal document that outlines an individual’s wishes regarding the distribution of their assets and the care of any minor children after their death. This document serves as a formal expression of an individual’s final wishes, encompassing everything from financial assets and real estate to personal items.
Process of Making a Will
The process of making a will involves several key steps. Initially, it’s important to determine what assets you have and how you wish to distribute them. This can include financial assets, properties and personal items. The next step is to select an executor who is tasked with administering the will based on the outlined wishes. Consulting with a will lawyer in Canberra is advisable to address legal considerations.
Changing a Will: When Should I Update My Will?
It is advisable to review and update your will periodically, particularly after significant life events, such as marriage, divorce, the birth of a child or the acquisition of substantial assets. In addition to these, updates might also be prompted by changes in relationships with beneficiaries or executors. Financial changes like a significant increase or decrease in the value of your estate due to investments, market changes or other factors might also necessitate adjustments to your will.
FAQs
Any individual over the age of 18 can legally draft a will. It’s advisable to consider writing a will as soon as you have any significant assets, responsibilities or preferences regarding the distribution of your estate.